Negative thinking is like a self-induced autoimmune disease that can make life miserable

I need to preface this article by saying that I am not equating an autoimmune disease with how we think. What I am saying is that the way we...

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Another painful reminder how stress increases pain

The other day I had a water leak in one of my closets that needed immediate attention. While I was cleaning it up, I reached my arm a certain...

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Cervical Dystonia: A Comprehensive Guide to Learning and Coping

I am honored to share a guest blog by Apurva Zawar, PT, DPT, GCS. She is the founder and owner of BeyondRehab, a digital Neuro-Rehab & Wellness clinic. I...

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Perspective on pain and suffering – Is it all in our head? Powerful words from a fellow patient

As many of you know, I have lived with a painful neurological movement disorder called dystonia for the past 22 years. Utilizing different treatments, therapies, extensive self-care and plenty...

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How resilient are you? Probably more than you think and give yourself credit

Having lived with chronic pain and involuntary muscle contractions from a neurological movement disorder called dystonia since 2001, I felt defeated many times. But I am still here battling...

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Self-nurturing for better health: My recovery from a recent breakdown

As many of you know reading this, I have lived with a chronic neurological movement disorder called dystonia, as well as chronic pain, for over 20 years. I use...

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Thanksgiving quotes we can use every day

Quotes are some of my favorite things. Some of them I read or hear and they go in one ear and out the other. Then there are some that...

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How getting lost in physical and mental pain helped me find myself

In the summer of 2001, I developed a neurological movement disorder called dystonia. Dystonia is the third most common movement disorder after Parkinson’s and essential tremor. In the very beginning,...

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Nature versus nurture when it comes to chronic pain and illness

If you live with a health condition, as I do with a chronic movement disorder called dystonia which is accompanied by pain, I have to be very careful how...

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Trying to put pain into perspective

This year marks the 21st anniversary when devastating chronic pain from dystonia took over my life. Within months after my first symptoms, I went from a very active, social,...

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Striving to find balance when in pain and everything feels off balance

I am always striving to find balance in my life, as I know most people are. Because my neck is off-center from a neurological movement disorder called dystonia, it...

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How to choose better for ourselves when we are suffering

If you have dystonia and chronic pain like I do, or one of many other thousands of health conditions, or just dealing with some tough life situations, you are...

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Try as we may, we can’t hide from our pain forever

Human beings are wired to run away from things that are painful and difficult. I sure as heck did the first 5 years of my dystonia diagnosis. It often...

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What a spider (and all of nature) taught me about resilience and adapting to adversity and pain

I have lived with chronic pain from dystonia, a neurological movement disorder, for 20 years. When it first began in 2001, it completely changed my life. I had to...

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The impact stress and emotions have on our health

20 years ago, I developed a painful neurological movement disorder called dystonia. I was 30 years old at the time. It totally turned my life upside down where I...

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